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netaliv3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, Gore, Blood, Antisemitism, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and War
pandaorb's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.0
I did not enjoy this in the slightest, but it was a book club selection so I powered through. To start with, I have an incredibly difficult time digesting Holocaust literature. I have been exposed to the horrors that humanity is capable of and dwelling on it any longer does me no good, thus Part 1 of this book was an extremely painful read.
Part 2 was written so differently (and in fact was not added until long after the initial publication) that it may as well have been a different book. The switch in tone and topic was jarring, and from my reading could essentially be summed up as "find religion or at least something to do". The postscript ended up being the most palatable section for me.
Frankl wrote the first draft for Part 1 in 9 days. I wish he had taken more time and integrated the information from Part 2 into Part 1 in order to illustrate any cases of logotherapy at work in concentration camps.Â
I don't begrudge the man for sharing his story, and I'm grateful that he found peace before passing, but this particular work did not do for me what it seems to have done for so many others.Â
Part 2 was written so differently (and in fact was not added until long after the initial publication) that it may as well have been a different book. The switch in tone and topic was jarring, and from my reading could essentially be summed up as "find religion or at least something to do". The postscript ended up being the most palatable section for me.
Frankl wrote the first draft for Part 1 in 9 days. I wish he had taken more time and integrated the information from Part 2 into Part 1 in order to illustrate any cases of logotherapy at work in concentration camps.Â
I don't begrudge the man for sharing his story, and I'm grateful that he found peace before passing, but this particular work did not do for me what it seems to have done for so many others.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
Minor: Cannibalism
jeroenlt's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, Deportation, Torture, Murder, Emotional abuse, War, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Physical abuse, and Hate crime
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Cancer
frommars's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
the second way of finding a meaning in life is by experiencing something - such as goodness, truth and beauty - by experiencing nature and culture or, last but not least, by experiencing another human being in his very uniqueness - by loving him.
found a lot of comfort in the idea that even if it's so hard to see at times, there is some sort of meaning to life. hidden, hard to grasp, but it's there and it's eventually what pulls us forward, no matter how much easier it would be to just lose all hope.Â
+ how we should stop with our dissatisfaction with what we were dealt by life, but rather find its meanin and keep going until we find something closer to our greater temporary meaning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, and Genocide
Minor: Cannibalism
margztgz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is an absolutely phenomenal work, and I'm so glad to finally have read this. I think everyone should read this book, especially those feeling lost in life or those who have gone through very difficult and traumatic events. Man's Search for Meaning is incredibly inspiring and I truly love everything about this book, it was perfectly done. Frankl manages to address both uncomfortable topics on a personal level and a broader historical level in a poignant yet necessary way. I do not think a single word or sentence was irrelevant, and I was entranced the whole time. I will definitely be coming back to this for guidance, and I nearly underlined the whole book.Â
Frankl has the unique voice of a poet, survivor, psychologist, and philosopher all rolled into one. I feel absolutely touched, and will now genuinely be readjusting my entire outlook on life. One of my favorite books I have read this year, to be sure. Everyone, please pick this up at least once!
Frankl has the unique voice of a poet, survivor, psychologist, and philosopher all rolled into one. I feel absolutely touched, and will now genuinely be readjusting my entire outlook on life. One of my favorite books I have read this year, to be sure. Everyone, please pick this up at least once!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Bullying, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Torture, Violence, War, and Self harm
sophie_visentin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Emotional abuse, and Genocide
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Cannibalism
annabunce's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Cannibalism
crufts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
After several months without one, it's wonderful to be able to write another five-star review.
Man's Search For Meaning is two books in one: it's a Holocaust memoir, but also an introduction to a form of psychotherapy called logotherapy which focuses on the human desire for meaning.
Firstly, how well does it work as a Holocaust memoir? Compared to other Holocaust memoirs (Elie Wiesel's Night, Yoram Gross's My Illustrated Life, and another memoir which will remain unnamed), Man's Search comes out on top as the best one I've ever read.
It declares exactly what it is up front (unlike My Illustrated Life). It only includes details that are relevant to the overall thesis of the story (unlike the memoir-which-shall-not-be-named). It writes with hope and intention for a better humanity (unlike Night, which is a portrait of inhumanity and cruelty). Its text is not fragmented and manic prose, but simple descriptive statements (also unlike Night). And it's short and to the point (which can be considered a plus for nearly any book, but especially a Holocaust memoir).
Secondly, how well does it work as a primer for logotherapy? Pretty well. Here my comparisons are the various other psychology books I've read, but especially The Courage To Be Disliked, since that book also attempts to promote a particular school of psychotherapy. (See my review of The Courage here.)
While I would have liked to hear more about how logotherapy can be applied in practice, the theory itself appears sound. Any reader over the age of two can attest to the truth of the claim that you can bear suffering quite well as long as you feel it's for a purpose, or it otherwise has meaning. Conversely, it's when one's suffering seems meaningless that thoughts of ending it all start to circle.
And you know, whenever I've been in a truly difficult or hopeless situation, stricken with fear or dread, there was always one thing that always gave me instantaneous comfort: the knowledge that no matter what happened, I still had the power to be the best version of myself possible. Whoever (or whatever) was causing me grief, no matter what they did to me, they couldn't stop me from choosing to remain polite, kind, and moral. "Living well is the best revenge", and by living well I gained the strength to get through those difficulties. And this is exactly the claim the book makes.
These observations are in contrast to my reading of The Courage To Be Disliked, where some of its claims rang true but others rang very hollow indeed. Now I actually want to read up about logotherapy!
If other Holocaust memoirs have burned you with their relentless misery and meaningless suffering, Man's Search For Meaning may be the soothing salve you need.
Man's Search For Meaning is two books in one: it's a Holocaust memoir, but also an introduction to a form of psychotherapy called logotherapy which focuses on the human desire for meaning.
Firstly, how well does it work as a Holocaust memoir? Compared to other Holocaust memoirs (Elie Wiesel's Night, Yoram Gross's My Illustrated Life, and another memoir which will remain unnamed), Man's Search comes out on top as the best one I've ever read.
It declares exactly what it is up front (unlike My Illustrated Life). It only includes details that are relevant to the overall thesis of the story (unlike the memoir-which-shall-not-be-named). It writes with hope and intention for a better humanity (unlike Night, which is a portrait of inhumanity and cruelty). Its text is not fragmented and manic prose, but simple descriptive statements (also unlike Night). And it's short and to the point (which can be considered a plus for nearly any book, but especially a Holocaust memoir).
Secondly, how well does it work as a primer for logotherapy? Pretty well. Here my comparisons are the various other psychology books I've read, but especially The Courage To Be Disliked, since that book also attempts to promote a particular school of psychotherapy. (See my review of The Courage here.)
While I would have liked to hear more about how logotherapy can be applied in practice, the theory itself appears sound. Any reader over the age of two can attest to the truth of the claim that you can bear suffering quite well as long as you feel it's for a purpose, or it otherwise has meaning. Conversely, it's when one's suffering seems meaningless that thoughts of ending it all start to circle.
And you know, whenever I've been in a truly difficult or hopeless situation, stricken with fear or dread, there was always one thing that always gave me instantaneous comfort: the knowledge that no matter what happened, I still had the power to be the best version of myself possible. Whoever (or whatever) was causing me grief, no matter what they did to me, they couldn't stop me from choosing to remain polite, kind, and moral. "Living well is the best revenge", and by living well I gained the strength to get through those difficulties. And this is exactly the claim the book makes.
These observations are in contrast to my reading of The Courage To Be Disliked, where some of its claims rang true but others rang very hollow indeed. Now I actually want to read up about logotherapy!
If other Holocaust memoirs have burned you with their relentless misery and meaningless suffering, Man's Search For Meaning may be the soothing salve you need.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Trafficking, Violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Genocide, Bullying, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Hate crime, Confinement, Excrement, Torture, Cannibalism, and Antisemitism
This is a Holocaust memoir. If you're looking for some light reading today, this book isn't the right pick. You might also consider reading only the second part (which discusses logotherapy), although you'll miss some of the context.
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